OFFICIAL: Major VAR Changes for the 2026 World Cup

VAR technology will be given additional powers for the 2026 World Cup following the formal approval of several key amendments to the laws of the game by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

During its annual meeting held at Hensol Castle (Wales), IFAB (football's global law-making body) ratified several notable changes. The most significant highlight is the expansion of the intervention scope of VAR for the 2026 World Cup, the tournament jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Since its implementation, VAR has primarily assisted referees in situations involving goals, penalty decisions, and direct red cards. However, at the upcoming World Cup, this technology may also be utilized to review corner kick incidents, specifically when there is a clear error in determining which player last touched the ball before it crossed the goal line.

According to the IFAB announcement, VAR can intervene if there is a "clearly incorrect corner kick award," provided the review is completed immediately and does not unduly delay the restart of play. FIFA strongly supports this change to minimize obvious officiating errors.

Nevertheless, not all competitions are in agreement. Both the Premier League and UEFA have expressed opposition, meaning the new regulation is optional and not mandatory for all tournaments.

Additionally, VAR will also be allowed to review red card situations arising from a clearly incorrect second yellow card, as well as cases of "player misidentification," where a referee mistakenly penalizes the wrong player or team leading to an incorrect card.

Alongside VAR, IFAB has introduced a series of measures to curb time-wasting. For goal kicks, throw-ins, or substitutions, referees will implement a countdown procedure. If a player deliberately delays, they will have only 5 seconds to act, otherwise possession will be awarded to the opposing team.

In substitution scenarios, a player leaving the field has a maximum of 10 seconds to exit the pitch. If violated, the substitute must wait 60 seconds before entering, meaning the team will play with a numerical disadvantage during that period.

Regarding injuries, a player receiving medical treatment must leave the field for 1 minute, instead of the 30-second rule used in the Premier League. The trend of goalkeepers staying down to waste time will also continue to be trialed and thoroughly evaluated.

Actions such as players voluntarily leaving the field to protest a referee's decision, or players pulling their shirts over their mouths during discussions, will also be studied and consulted on further. Previously, Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth while arguing with Vinicius Jr. in a match against Real Madrid, leading to a UEFA investigation into alleged racial abuse, which he denied.

The new adjustments will officially take effect from July 1st. However, as the 2026 World Cup begins earlier, these regulations will be applied starting from the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11th.